Printing press



Aug. 29, 193s. H. J. REARDON 1,924,288

PRINTING PREss ,l

Fild may 4,v 193s :s sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1933i H. J.REARDON PRINTING PRESS Filed nay. 4. 1935 s sheets-snaai 2 I ATTORNEYAug. 29, 1933. H. J. REARboN PRINTING PRESS Filed May 4, 1935 3Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY @lim/W Q y ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 29, 1933UNITED STATES lPATlazNT oFFicE PRINTING PRESS n Harvey J. Reardon,Chicago, Ill.

Application May 4, 1933. Serial No. 669,392

22 Claims.

l This invention relates to certain novel improvements in printingpresses.

Objects of this invention are: to provide a hand printing press that isparticularly adapted for the use of school children and others unskilledin in a printing press, the combination of:` a bed having paralleltrackways; each of the trackways carriage movable along the trackwaysand including an impression roller; said carriage in- A cluding verticalanti-friction elements or rollers movable over the trackways inengagement with thesaid horizontal walls thereof; and said carriageincluding horizontal rollers or anti-friction elements movable over thetrackways in engagement with the said vertical walls thereof to preventlateral, shifting movement of the carriage and impression roller duringthe printing operation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in a. printingpress, the combination recited in the last-named object plus a chasearranged on the bed of the press and a form of type assembled thereinhaving their printing faces projecting slightly above the Alowest pointof the impression roller when the vertical rollers of the carriage arein engagement with the horizontal walls of the trackways so that theimpression roller is forced to climb slightly up onto the printing facesof the type as it passes thereover; whereby the impression roller rideswith its own .printing faces of the type during the printing operation;the impression roller thereby accommodating itself and the paperthereunder, in a manner more fully explained hereinafter, to any littleirregularities that may exist between the vertical heights of theseveral type in the chase prior to the start of the printing operation.This eliminates the necessity for planing and proving up the type and isan important feature of the new press.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination of:means for locatingl a chase upon the bed; and means for locating papersheets successively upon the chase, in printing position; said meansincluding a slidable work- -locating bar guided for movement over thebed;

Another object of the invention is to provide including a horizontalwall and a vertical wall; a

weight and the weight of its carriage upon thev (Cl. lol- 269) and saidmeans including a paper clamping member pivotally mounted on the saidslidable worklocating bar for`slidable movement therewith to accommodateitself to sheets of paper of different sizes, according to the sizeofthe chase engaged by the slidable work-,locating bar.

vAnother object of the invention is to provide, in combination, a handprinting press and a chase for printing from rubber type, unmountedrubber and linoleum cuts, rubber map vprinting forms or mats and thelike; and in the use of which the necessity for planing and proving upthe type assembled in the chase is eliminated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hand printingpress that is especially designed for usel with the chase described andclaimed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 669,083, led May 3, 1933.y

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangementof means for successively locating the corners of paper sheets inprinting position upon the chase; said means including corner-locatingpieces attached to and lslidable with the aforementioned slidableWorklocating bar and paper clamping member carried thereby.

A s'till further object of the invention is to provide a press that isso constructed that as many as ten good clear copies may be printedafter each inking operation; the later copies being obtained by applyingdownward pressure upon the impression roller carriage to urge theimpression roller into engagement with the type, or the like, in thechase.

Additional objects of the invention are: to provide the hand printingpress hereinafter described and claimed; and to provide a press that isgenerallyefcient in use, and relatively simple and inexpensive inconstruction.

Other objects will appear vhereinafter as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a preferred form of the new printingpress showingthe chase assembled on the bed plate thereof in printingposition;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view, on line 3-3 in Fig. 1,showing how the impression roller rides with its own Weightand theweight of its carriage upon the rubber type during the printingoperation, causing the vertical rollers of the impression rollercarriage to ride up slightly olf the horizontal walls of theirtrackways;

6, also illustrating the parts referred te inthe description of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the chase showing rubber type andlockingbars arranged therein; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing arubber map printing` form vor matwhich may be arranged in the rubber chase shown in the lower half of thefigure and used inthe press for printing or reproducing geographicalmaps and the like.

A preferred form Lof the new printing press is illustrated in thedrawings and the same includes a bed 10, chase 11, and impression rollercar- The bed 10 is preferablyfand most economically, made by forming thesame from a single plate or sheet of light metal, `for which an aluminumalloy is preferred. This is, however, not to be considered in any way alimitation upon` the selection of material used in making the bed 10, orthe manner of forming the same.

'Formed in the bed plate 10 along the longitudinal edges thereof areparallel track'ways 13. Each of these trackways includes a horizontal YWall 14 and a vertical Wall 15 so that the top or upper surface 16 ofthe bed plate, upon which the chase 11 lies, is disposed somewhat abovethe horizontal walls 14 of the trackways 13. l

Movable over the trackways 13, in engagement with the horizontal walls14 thereof, are vertical rollers or anti-friction elements 18, which arecarried by the frame 17 of the impression roller carriage 12. Alsocarried by the frame 17 of the carriage 12 and movable over thetrackways 13, but in engagement with the vertical walls 15 thereof, arehorizontal guiding rollers oranti friction elements 19. The frame 17- of.the carriage '12 includes a handlel 22, and a shaft 20 has its ends ortrunnions rotatably journaled in the frame 17. Also ya part of thecarriage 12 and mounted on the shaft 20 "is an impression roller 21which is preferably made of relatively .yieldable, so-called hardrubber, for reasons to appear hereinafter. This impression roller may,

5 however, be made of wood, metal, or other equiv- Fig. 4 is a verticalsectional view on line '4-4 rof the paper-clamping member 33 forslidable ing pieces 24 (Fig. 6) for locating one end of thel chase inprinting position on the upper surface 16 of the bed plate. This chasemay be either the metal chase 11 of Fig. 8 or the rubber. tray or. chase25 of Fig. 9.

""' Slidably mounted on the upper surface 1 6 vof 5 the bed plate forlocating the other end of the work (that is, one end of either the-chase.11 or the chase 25) is a slidable work-locating bar 26 which has cornerlocating pieces 27 (Fig. 6) attached thereto.l The'slidablework-locating bar 7'0 '26 is guided over the upper surface 16 of the bed30 on their upper ends and these nuts 3() project `which is angled underthe work-locating bar 26.

'bled in the chase, including'the wedges or quoins reason to beexplained hereinafter.

above the upper surface 16 of the bed plate 10 for movement thereoverwith the work-locating bar 26.

. To hold an impression-receiving sheet, such as a sheet of paper 31, inprinting position upon the type 48 assembled in the chase 11 a pair ofpaper-clamping members or clips 32 and 33 are provided. The clamp orclip 32 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 34 (Fig. 2). The shaft 34-is inturn mounted in a bracket 35 that is'xed to the upper surface 16 of thebed plate 10. The clamp or clip 32 has an angled end or lip 36 and thislip 36 urged downwardly into clamping engage-4 ment againstI the top ofthe Work-locating bar 23 'by means of aat, leaf spring 37. This spring'37 is attached to the bottom side of the clamp or clip 32 and has anangled portion 38 that bears on the top surface 16 of the bed plate 10.r

The paper-clamping member or clip 33, instead of being xed relative tothe bed plate 10, as is the clamp 32, is slidable over the bed plate 10with the work-locating bar 26. To this Iend the clamp 33 is pivotallymounted on a shaft 4() which is carried by a slidable supporting frameor plate 39. This plate 39 has an end portion` 41 (Fig. 2)

yof the bar 26, so that the bar 26 is in effect mounted on, and carriedby, the angled end portion 41 movement therewith over the upper surface16 of the bed plate 10.

The paperclamping member 33 has an angled lip 42 at its inner endandthis lip 42 is lurged into engagement with the upper surface of thefixed work-locating bar 26 by means of a flat, leaf spring 44. The leafspring 44 is attached to the under side of the clip 33 and has anrangled portion 44 bearing on the base 39 (Fig. 2)` to urge the clamp 33clockwise (Fig. 2) on its shaft 40.

'Ihe case 11 (Fig-8) has a flat base `46 and a marginal flange 45 formedintegrally therewith.

flange provides a channelway or groove that extends around the edges ofthe base 46 and slidably receives the end portions'of the locking bars47 (Fig. 4) that are slidably mounted on l the base 46:. These lockingbars 47 cooperate with the other elements of the lock-up means assem- 49(Fig. 1), and suitable furniture assembled in the chase, vto lock up theform of flat, shallow, L rubber type 48, either alone or with anunmounted rubber or linoleum printing out, as more fully set forth in myaforementioned co-pen'ding appli- 130 cation.

point that the impression-roller 21 assumes when 135 the vverticalrollers 18 are in engagement with the horizontal walls 14 of thetrackways 13, for a An inlet 50 is provided in the flange'45 at one,

corner of the'chase 11 for slidably inserting the 14() `ber type 48and/or any unmounted rubber or linoleum printing cuts assembledtherewith, a rubber printing form or mat 51 (Fig. 9) may besubstituted.The rubber lprinting form or mat shown is thin and flexible, is designedfor printing geographical maps, and has a raisedoutline map formedthereon.

In using the printing form, or mat 51, the same is assembled in the trayor chase 25. This tray l This edge 52 is of the same size as theprinting form or mat 51 so that the latter may be fitted onto the base53 within the raised edge 52 and held by the edge 52 against shifting onvthe base 53. The tray 25 and the form 51 assembled therein are placedin printing position upon the upper surface 16 of the bed plate 10. Thebase 53 of the tray 25l then serves as a mounting for the form l toraise the printing face of the printing form 51 up high enough to engagethe impression roller 21.

Formed in the bed plate at the ends of the trackways 13 to prevent thecarriage 12 from overrunning the trackways are stops 56.

Attached to, and projecting slightly above,`the

work-locating bars 26 and'23, respectively, (Figs.A 1, 5, 6 and 7) aremeans in the form of angled corner-locating pieces 54 and 55 whichcooperate with the clamping members 32 and 33 to register successivesheets of paper in printing position upon the chase 11 or tray 25.

' Operation To print with the new press from the chase 11, a form offlat, shallow, rubber type 48 and/or an unmounted rubber or linoleumcut,v (shown in vmy aforementioned co-pencling application), or

a combination of these, may be assembled in the chase 11 and lockedtherein by the 'lock-up means; which lock-up means includes the lockingbars 47 and wedges ,49. The chase 11 is then Vplaced on the uppersurface16 of the bed 10,

with one end of the chase 11 abutting the fixed work-locating bar 23 andfitting within the corner-locating pieces 24 (Fig. 1). The slidablework-locating bar 26 is then slid over the top -surface 16 of the bedplate, toward the bar 23,

and into engagement with the otherend of the chase' 11, so that thecorners of the chase lie within the corner-locating pieces 24-27. Theclamping nuts 30 .are then tightened down against the corner-locatingpieces 27 tov clamp the work-locating bar 26 and the chase 11 inassembled, printing, position on the bed plate 10 of the press.

An inking roller or brayer (not shown) is then run over the printingfaces 57 of the type 48,

and/or any unmounted ru'bber or linoleum cuts that may be assembledtherewith in the chase 11. A sheet of paper 31 is then laid over thechase 11 above the printing faces 57 of the inked type 48 and/or anyunmounted rubber or linoleum cuts (not shown)` locked therein; thecorners of the papel` 31 being arranged in the corner-locating pieces 54and 55 that are attached to, and project slightly above, thework-locating bars -26 and 23, respectively, (Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7). The

vthe corner-locating pieces 54 and 55, whereupon the carriage 12 is'again moved across the bed 10 to the right, Figs. 1 and 2. The secondsheet 31 thus printedupon is thereupon removed and this cycle ofoperations completed; successive sheets 31 being thus laid andregistered in printving position upon the chase so that successivecopies of the form of type, type and cuts, or printing cuts alone,assembled in the chase may be printed therefrom by successivelyregistering the sheets 31 in printing position upon the chase in themanner stated.` It is to be noted that it 'is necessary to clampdownonly one end of the paper sheet 31, namely, the end away from which thecarriage 12 isito travel during the printing operation.

As the carriage 12 moves over the chase 1l during the printingoperation, the vertical rollers 18 of the carriage travel on thehorizontal Walls 14 of the trackways 13 and the horizontal rollers 19engage orf bear against the vertical Walls 15 of the trackways 13. Asthe carriage 12 and its impression roller 21 run over the chase 11, theimpression roller 21 climbs slightly, over the paper 31, up onto theprinting faces 57 of the rubber type 48, and, in so doing, theirnpression roller 21 lifts'the vertical rollers 18 of the carriage 12slightly above and off the horizontal walls 14 of the trackways 13 (seeFigs. 2, 3, and 4). The eect of this action of the impression roller 21in climbing up onto the printing faces 57 of the rubber type 48 is thatit causes the impression roller 21 to ride with its own weight and theweight of its carriage 12 upon the printing faces 57 of the rubber type48 during the printing operation. During this time, however, thehorizontal rollers 19 remain in engagement with the vertical walls 15 ofthe trackways 13 and cooperate therewith to prevent lateral or shiftingmovement of the impression 'roller y 21 and' its carriage 12 during theprinting op- *f eration. This cooperation of the horizontal rollers 19with the vertical walls 15 of thetrackways 13 to guide and preventlateral or shifting movement of the impression roller 21 and itscarriage 12, during the printing operation, is an important feature ofthe new press. This is because of the fact that the vertical rollers 18do not at any time in the present apparatus function to guide thecarriage 12 against lateral movement. This duty is performed by thehorizontal rollers 11 both before and after the impression roller 21climbs up onto the printing faces 57 of the type 48 and thereby liftsthe vertical rollers 18 off the horizontal walls 14 of thetrackimpression roller carriage 12 being disposed, at/ Ways 13 duringthe Printing Operation# It is t0 I 31-is thus registered and held inprinting position be noted, therefore, that this arrangement of thetrackways 13 and carriage 12 is unique in that the carriage may ride upoff the horizontal walls of its trackways and still be guided by thevertical walls of the same against lateral movement. It is consideredthat this feature is new in the art.A N

The carriage 12 may also be operated with unmounted rubber or linoleumcuts assembled in the chase 11, either with or without the rubber type48, and also when using a flexible rubber printing form or mat such asthe map printing form 51, assembled in a tray, such as 25, on the bedplate 10.

As the impression roller 21 rides with its own weight and the weight ofits carriage 12 upon the rubber type 48, during the printing operation,it compresses the rubber type 48 slightly and, in so doing, accommodatesitself and-the paper 31 thereunder to any little irregularities orydifferences in height that may exist between the printing faces 57 ofthe several rubber type 48, or between the printing faces of the typeand the printing faces of any unmounted rubber or linoleum cuts that maybe assembled therewith in the chase 11. This is 'an important feature ofthe new printing press since it is this feature of the press thateliminates the prior art practice and necessity for planing and provingup the printing faces of the heretofore customarily used metal type` toa common level prior to ,the printing operation. This result could notbe effected, of course, with incompressible metal type and is considerednew in the art. The following example will better explain how thepresent apparatus accomplishes this result of. eliminating the.necessity for planing and proving up the'typez/ Assume that there isavslight difference in vertical 31, since metal type are, of course,incompressi- A height between the printing faces 57 of the type P2 and Rwhich form the first two -letters of the word Printer in the chase 1(Fig. 1). If the type 48 were metal 'type this difference wouldnecessitateplaning and proving up the type to a common height or else apoor reproduction or print would be formed on thel paper sheet ble.However, in the use of the present apparatus, including the compressiblerubber type `48, as the impression roller 21 is run over the-chaseduring the printing operation it climbs slightly, in the mannerhereinbefore described, up onto the printing faces 57 of the` tyr 48,whereupon the weight of the impression roller 21 and its carriage 12compresses the higher of the two type P and R, referred to in thisexample, and in so doing brings the printing face 57 of the higher typedown to a common levelwith the printing face of the lower type. Thus,they paper v31 is forced-into engagement with the inked printing faces57 of both type and a good sharp, clear print or reproduction on thepaper 31 is thus assured andthe prior art necessity for, and customarypractice of, planing and proving up the metal type always heretoforeused is thereby eliminated.

The best results have been obtained in the use of the present apparatuswhen using an impression roller 21 that is made of so-called hard rubberthat has some yieldability.' This is because of the fact that Asomeyyieldability in the impression roller 21 helps the impression rollerbetter to accommodate itself during the printing operation to any littleirregularities that may exist between the vertical heights of theprinting faces 57 of the rubber type 48 assembled in the chase. However,the impression roller 21 may be made of Wood, metal, or other substance,and the present apparatus will still function satisfactorily.

The present apparatus is especially designed for the use of, and will ndits greatest use among, school children. Because of this fact, theelimination of the necessity for 4planing and proving up'the rubbertype, and the consequent need for a proof table, mallets, and otherapparatus `involved in the use of these printing forms, the

-pression Vroler 21 are vless than l (0.9l8) above the upper surface 16of the bed 140 used in planing and proving up type, is a matter ofconsiderable importance. This feature is especially important because ofthe fact that school children do not possess the skill necessary toplane and prove up type; and because, furthermore, proof tables,malletsand other apparatus used for planing and proving up type are expenvfsive and could not be considered in the/budgets of the schools in whichthe present apparatus will nd its greatest use, namely, in schools thatare, in general, too small to support a machine operated printing press.

The flexible rubber map printing form, or mat 51 is made relatively thinand flexible to mnimize the cost of the same, as the cost of theseflexible rubber printing forms, or dies, increases greatly with thethickness of the same. To bring the printing face of the rubber map formor mat 51 up suiciently high to engage the impression roller 21 duringthe printing operation, the rubber chase or tray 25 is provided. In uselthe chase or tray 25 is placed on the uppersurface 16 of the bed 10, andthe form or mat 51 placed therein. The slidable work-locating bar26 isthen slid into engagement with oneend of the tray 25 to locate thelatter and the form 51 in printing position. 'f A sheet of paper is thenlaid over` the printing form 51 and tray 25 and located and clamped inprinting position, in the manner hereinbefore described for locating andclamping` the sheet 31, whereupon'the carriage 12 and impression roller21 are run over the paper to complete the printing operation.

The tray 25 permits the use of relatively thin and flexible printingforms or mats 51 which 110 would oth'erwise'buckle or curl up if theslidable work-locating bar 26 were forced directly thereagainst to clampthe flexible printing form or mat 51 in printing position upon the bed10. 'Ihe tray 25 thus providesan external support to pre- 115 ventbuckling of the flexible printing form 51 used therein. The tray 25shown is made of rubber but it maybe made of other material thanrubberfsuch, for example, as wood, metal, or other material. However,the tray 25 is preferably 120 made of resilient rubber because Awhenmade of this material it provides a resilient, yieldable base for theprinting form or mat 51. This enables the mat 51 to yield slightly underthe weight of the impression roller 21 and its carriage 12 so that theimpression roller 21 and the paper sheet laid over the mat 51 mayaccommodate themselves during. the printing operation to any littleirregularities that may exist between the vertical heights of the linesinscribed or molded on the printing face of the map printing form 51.Since the tray 25 thus permits the use lof'thin, flexible printing forms51, it materially reduces the expenditure cost of which increasesgreatly with the thickness of theA same.

The printing faces 57 of the rubber type 48- assembled in the chase andthe bottom of the imtype high 10. This arrangement permits the use ofunmounted rubber cuts and unmounted linoleum cuts in the chase 1l,either with or without rubber type 48. As set forth in my aforementionedcopending application, this is a matter of consider- '145 ableimportance since it effects a distinct economy in the use of rubber andlinoleum cuts. The explanation of this resides inthe fact that mountedlinoleum and mounted rubber for use in making these cuts is very muchmore expensive than the being shorter in length than the chase 11.

unmounted-material. This form of art,work has become increasinglypopular in the schools in recent years, and to bem able to practice itusing unmounted linoleum and unmounted rubber for making the cutsgreatly reduces the expense and expenditure involved, especially whenconsidering the fact that mounted linoleum blocks are very expensive(ten to fifteen cents per square inch) while unmounted linoleum is,relatively, very cheap; and scraps of this material may often beobtained for the asking by school children at stores and factories wherethis material is cut up, used, and sold. f)

The reason for the prior art practice of using mounted material formaking these cuts resides in the fact that the prior art chases have ingeneral been designed for use with metal type of the conventional typeheight (0.918), andf in order to use rubber or linoleum cuts with metaltype of this height it is necessary to bring the printing faces of thecuts up to the same height, that is, type height, (0918"). Consequently,in order to bring the printing faces of the rubber or lino- -leum cutsup to type height (0918") it has always been the prior art practice `tomount the material used in making these cuts on a wooden block or base.The present apparatus is, therefore,believed to be the first everdesigned so that printing may be done therewith from unmounted rubberand linoleum cuts. This belief is supported by the fact that vinquirymade of persons employed at the Chicago Art Institute, who arethoroughly familiar with this form of art work, revealed that to theirknowledge printing from unmounted rubber and linoleum cuts had neverbeen done and that no apparatus was available for so doing.

It may also be said here that unmounted linoleum cuts for use with thepresent apparatus may be made directly from so-called battleshiplinoleum by cutting the same into the desired sizes. ,This materialcomes on the market in two standard sizes, namely, 6 mm., and 635mm.,both thicknesses of which are less than the conventional type height(0.918) of metal type with which mounted linoleum and rubber cuts havealways heretofore been used.

The work-locating bar 26 is slidably mounted on the bed plate 10 so thatit may be at different times moved into engagement with one end of thechase 11 or into engagement with one end of the printnig form tray 25;the tray or chase 25 The paper clamp 33 is mounted on and made slidablewith the slidable work-locating bar so that it may be accommodated tothe size of the paperv sheets that are used when printing from the tray25 and printing form 51; these sheets being shorter than the sheets usedwhen printing `from the 'chase 11.

The feature of mounting one of the two pivotal paper clamping membersand two of the cornerlocating pieces 54 on the slidable work-locatingbar 26 for slidable movement therewith relative to and over the bed 10,while mounting the other,

paper clamping member and the other two corner-locating pieces 55 sothat the same are fixed, relative to the bed l0, isa-n important featureof Sthe present apparatus since it readily enables printing to be doneupon sheets of paper of different sizes or lengths.

. It has been found by experiment with the present apparatus that asmany as ten good, clear copies can be printed after each inkingoperation. Th'is is because of the fact that when the ink on,

for example, the printing faces 57 of the rubber type 48 (or on theprinting form 51, or on a rubber or linoleum cut assembled in the chase11) begins to play out, after( the rst four or ve copies or so have beenmade, on paper sheets, such as .31, downward pressure may be applied onthe handle 22 of the impression roller carriage 12 to urge theimpression roller 21 against the paper sheet 31, thereby urging thesheet 31 into engagement with the inked printing faces 57 of the type 48(for example). In this way a larger number of good, clear copies can beobtained after each inking operation than would otherwise be possible.\The explanation of this lies, of course, in the downward pressureapplied upon the handle 22 of the impression roller carriage 12. Thispressure is eifective to force the impression roller 21 against thepapersheet 3l because of the fact that the impression roller 21 and itscarriage 12 ride upon the printing faces 57 of the type 48 during theprinting operation and thereby lift the vertical rollers 18 of thecarriage 12 up olf the horizontal walls 14 of the trackways 13. It is,therefore, evident that if the vertical rollers 18 did not ride upslightly off the horizontal Walls 18 of the trackwaysl during theprinting operation, downward pressure applied upon the carriage 12 wouldbe ineffective to force the impression roller 21 forcibly against thepaper sheet 31 and the latter against the inked printing faces 57 of thetype 48, and hence downward pressure on the carriage l2 would beunableto accomplish its intended purpose. i

It is desirable to be able to print ten or so copies after each inkingoperation because this minimizes the time and labor involved in inkingthe type. Some of the prior art presses seek to accomplish this bymaking the impressionrroller vertically adjustable on the frame of thecarriage, relative to the bed of the press, but in the present apparatusthis variation of the downward pressure of the impression roller may becontrolled by the operator, in the manner hereinbefore explained,without necessitating any adjustment f the impression roller 21 in, orrelative to, its frame 17; it being noted that the roller 21 in thepresent apparatus is incapable of any adjustment in the carriage frame17 relative to `the bed 10. Thus the present carriage 172 accomplishes,without adjustment of the impression roller 21 in its carriage 12, whatsome of the prior art impression roller carriages seek to accomplish bymaking the impression roller vertically adjustable in its carriage,relative to the bed of consideredinew in the art, and of merit, is thatit l is possible to print with the present press on sheets of paper,poster cardboard, and the like, of different thicknesses; withoutadjusting either the height of the type, chase, or impression roller.This is because of the fact that the impression roller 21 and itscarriage 12, being freely movable vertically, vand yet guided againstlateral movement by the engagement of the rollers 19 with the verticalwalls 15 of lthe trackways, accommodate themselves to paper, cardboards,and the like of different thicknesses, that may be laid'over the chase11 or tray 25, without adjustment of the height of the impression roller21, the chase, or the type or printing form therein. This could not be'done inthe prior art presses, in' so far as I am aware. Thus, forexample, if, in the prior then ten posters on regulation postercardboard,

which is about 0.050" in thickness, it would be necessary in the lattercase either to raise the height of the impression roller, or to lowerthe height of the type.

The term printing form as used in the ap- I pended claims is generic andis intended to includev a form of rubber type 48, a printing mat orform, such as 51, anunmounted ,linoleum cut, an unmounted rubber cut, awood cut, or any combination of these that may be assembled'upon the bedofthe press in a chase, such as 11, or a tray such as 25, in the mannerhereinbefore set forth or otherwise.

' While I have described'the preferred embodiments of the presentprinting press, the invention is not limited to the exact details ofconstruction set forth, it being intended that the present inventionshall include such variations and modifications as come within and arepermissible within the scope of the appended claims.

, I claim:

1. In a printing press, the combination of a bed; work-locating means onthe bed including a work-locating bar slidably mounted on and guidedover the lbed; and paper-locating means on the bed including apaper-clamping member pivotally mounted on and slidable with the saidwork-locating bar over the said bed.

' 2. In'a printing press, the combination of: a bed having paralleltrackways each including a horizontal wall; relatively flat,shallowrubber type arranged upon the said bed; and a carriage includingan impression roller movable over the said bed and including verticalrollers movable along the horizontal walls of said trackways; theprinting faces of said type being arranged slightly above the lowermostpoint of the impression roller when the-said vertical rollers are inengagement with the horizontal walls of said trackways so that theimpression roller is forced to climb slightly up onto the printing facesof the type as it moves thereover, thereby causing the impression rollerto ride with itsown weight and the weight of its carriage upon theprinting faces of the type during the printing operation and .therebyslightly compressing the said type and accommodating the impressionroller andthe impression-receiving sheet thereunder to any littleirregularities thatmay exist between the vertical heights of theprinting faces of the several type..

prior to the printing operation. l f

y 3. In alprinting press,- the combination of `a bed havingparallel`trackways each including -a horizontal wall; relativelyat,shallow. rubber` type arranged upon the said bed; and a carriageincluding an Vimpression roller movable over the? said bed and includingvertical rollers movable along the horizontal walls of said trackways;the printing faces of said type being arranged slightly above the,lowermost point of the impression roller when the said vertical rollersare in engagement Ywith the horizontal walls of` said trackways sothat.the impression roller is forced to climb slightly up onto the,printing faces ofthe type as it moves thereover, thereby causing theimpression roller to ride with its own weight and the ,weight of itscarriage upon the printing faces of the type during the printingoperation and thus accommodating the impression roller and `the papersheet thereunder to any little irregularities printing faces of theseveral type prior to the printing operation; the said carriageincludingv other rollers `movable over the trackways and cooperatingtherewith to prevent lateral .shifting movement of the carriage andimpression roller both when the impression roller is riding upon theprinting .faces of the type and when riding off the same during theprinting operation.

4. In a hand printing press, the combination of: a bed; means includinga slidable work-locating bar arranged upon the bed for locating a chasein printing position upon the bed and means including a paper clampingmember piv otally mounted on and slidable with said slidable worklocating bar for locating a paper sheet in printing position upon, andrelative to, the said chase.

,5. In a hand printing press, the combination ment over said bed andadapted for engagement with one end of said chase; and means forsuccessively locating paper sheets in printing position upon, andrelative-to, the said bed and chase;

said paper locating means including a paperclamping member pivotallymounted onand slidablewith said slidable work-locating bar; vsaidpaper-locating means including pieces attached tov said slidable bar andmovable therewith for successively locating corresponding corners of thesaid papersheets upon, and relative to, the said chase. I

6.' In a printingvpress, the combination of: a bed having paralleltrackways; a printing form arranged upon the bed; and a. carriageincluding an impression roll movable over the said bed; said carriageincluding anti-friction elements movable over and normally bearing withtheir own weight andthe weight of said carriage upon said trackways;said printing form including a printing face have component parts andsaid printing face projecting slightly above the lowermost point of saidimpression roll when the said antifriction elements are in bearingengagement with the saidtrackways; so that the said impression roll isvforced to climb slightly up onto the said printing face as it is movedlthereover; thereby lifting the said anti-friction elements up out ofengagement with said trackways and causing the impression roll to ridewith its own weight and the weight of its carriage upon the saidprinting face of. the form during the printing operation; therebyaccommodating the said impression roll and theimpression-receivingmember adapted to be laid thereunder upon said printing face to any'little irregularitiesf or differences that may exist ,between thevertical heights of the said component parts of said print face prior tothe start of the vprinting operatic the said carriage including other'anti-friction elements cooperating with the said trackways to preventlateral movement of the carriage and. its impression roll both 1 whenthe impression roll is riding with its owny and a carriage including animpression roll movable over the said bed; said carriageincludinganti-friction'elements movable over and normally bearing withtheir own weight and the weight of said carriage upon said trackways;said printing form including a printing face having component parts andsaid printing face projectng slightly above the lowermost point of saidimpression roll when the said anti-friction elements are in bearingengagement with the said trackways; so that the said impression roll isforced to climb slightly up onto the said printing face as it is movedthereover; thereby lifting the said operation; the said carriageincluding other antifriction elements cooperating with the said track-Ways to prevent lateral movement of the carriage and its impression rollboth when the impression roll is .riding with its own weight and that ofits carriage upon the said printing face and when the said impressionroll is riding off from the said printing face as the carriage is movedover the bed.

8. In a printing press, the combination of: a bed having paralleltrackways; a resilient, cornpressible printing form arranged upon thebed; and a carriage including a resilient, compressible impression-rollmovable over the said bed; said carriage including anti-frictionelements movable overfand normally bearing with their own weight and theweight of said carriage upon said trackways; said printing formincluding a printing face having component parts and said printing faceprojecting slightly above the lowermost point of said impression rollwhen the said anti-friction elements are in bearing engagevment with thesaid trackways; so that the said `and the Weight of its carriage uponthe said printingv face of the form during the printing operation;therebyv slightly compressing said printing formA and impression rolland thus accommodating the said impression roll andtheimpression-receiving `member adapted to be laid thereunder upon -saidprinting face tofany little irregularities or` differences that `mayexist between the vertical heights of thef said component parts of saidprinting face prior to the start of Athe printing operation; the saidcarriage including other anti-friction elements cooperating with thesaid trackways to prevent lateral movement of the carriage and itsimpression roll both when-the impression roll is riding with its ownweight and that of its carriage upon the said printing face and when thesaid impression roll is riding off from the said printing face as 'thecarriage ismoved over the bed.

V9. In a printing press, the combination of: a bed having paralleltrackways; a printing form arranged upon the bed; and a carriageincluding an impression roll movable over the said bed; said carriageincluding anti-friction elements movable over and normally bearing withtheir own weight and the weight of said carriage upon said trackways;said printing form including a printing face having component parts andsaid printing face projecting slightly above the lowermost point of saidimpression roll when the said antifriction elements are in bearingengagement with the said trackways; so that thev said, impression rollis forced to climb slightly up onto the said printing face as'itis movedthereover; thereby lifting the said anti-friction elements up out -ofengagement with said trackways and causing the impression roll to ridewith its own weight and the weight of its carriage upon the saidprinting face of the form during the printing operation; therebyaccommodating the said impression roll and the impression-receivingmember adapted to be laid thereunder upon said printing face to anylittle irregularities or differences that may exist between the verticalheights of the said component parts of said printing face prior to thestart of the printing operation. p

' 10. In a printing press, thecombination of: a bed having paralleltrackways; a resilient, compressible printing form arranged upon thebed; and a carriage including an impression roll movable over the saidbed; said carriage including anti-friction elements movable over andnormally bearing with their own weight and the weight of said carriageupon said trackways; said printing form including a printing facehaving'component parts and said printing face projecting slightly above.the lowermost point of said impression roll when the said anti-frictionelements are in bearing engagementwith the said trackways; so that thesaid impression roll is forced to climb slightly up onto the saidprinting face as it is moved thereover; thereby lifting the saidantifriction elements up out of engagement with said trackways andcausing the impression roll to ride with its own weight and the weightof its carriage upon the said printing face of the form during theprinting operation; thereby slightly compressing the said form and thusaccommodating the said impression roll and the impression-receivingmemberadapted to be laid thereunder upon said printing face to anylittle irregularities or differences that may exist between the verticalheights of the said component parts of said printing face prior to thestart of the printing operation.

11. In a printing press, the combination of: a bed having paralleltrackways; a resilient, compressible printing form arranged upon thebed;

andra carriage including a resilient, compressible impression roll`movable over the said bed; said carriage including anti-frictionelements movable over and normally bearing with their own weight and theweight of said carriage upon said trackface projecting slightly abovethe lowermost point of said impression roll when the said antifrictionelements are in bearing engagement with the said trackways; so that thesaid. impression roll is forced-to climb slightly up onto the saidprinting face as it is moved thereover; thereby lifting the saidanti-friction elements up out of engagement with said trackways andcausing the impression roll to ride with its own weight and the weightof its vcarriage upon the said printing face of the form during theprinting operation; thereby slightly compressing said printing form andimpression roll and thus accommodating the said impression roll and theimpression-receiving `tion.

member adapted to b e laid thereunder upon s aid printing face'to anylittle irregularities or differences that may exist between the verticalheights of the said component parts of said printing face prior to thestart of the printing opera- 12. In a printing press, the combination ofa bed; work-locating means on the bed including a work-locatingmemberslidably mounted on and guided for movement over said bed; andmeansv locating means including members attached to and slidable withsaid slidable Work-locating member for successively locatingcorresponding corners of the said impression-receiving sheets inprinting position upon and relative to said bed.

14. In a printing press,v the combination of a bed having' paralleltrackways each including a vertical wall and a horizontal wall; andanimpression-roll carriage movable over saidmbed; said carriage havingvertical anti-friction elenients movable over, and normally bearing withtheir own weight and tle Weight of said carriage upon, the uppersurfaces of the said horizontal Walls of said trackways; said carriagebeing free to move and being adapted to move during the printingoperation in a vertical plane relative to and above said bed up onto theprinting face of printing form assembled upon said bed; and saidcarriage including other and horizontal anti-friction elements havingbearing engagement with the said vertical walls of the trackways andcooperating with the latter to prevent lateral orA shifting movement ofthe carriage both when lthe-said-vertical anti-friction elements are inengagement with'and bearing.

upon the said horizontal walls of the said trackways and when saidcarriage climbs slightly up onto the printing face of said printing formand thereby raises said .vertical anti-friction ele-` ments up oi fromand above the horizontal wall-s of said trackways during the printingoperation,

15.*In a printing press: a bedhaving substantially parallel trackwayseach including a vertical wall and 'a horizontal wall; and an impressionroll carriage movableover said bed; said carriage including verticalanti-friction elements normally bearing with their own weight and theweight of said carriage upon the upper surfaces of said trackways; andsaid carriage 'including other and horizontal anti-friction elementshaving bearing engagement with the said vertical walls of the trackwaysand cooperating with the said vertical walls to prevent movement of thecarriagein a direction transverse to the axis of the trackway as it ismoved over said bed.

16. In-a printing press: a bed having substan-4 tially paralleltrackways each including a substantially vertical wall and asubstantially hori-` zontal wall; and an impression roll carriagemovable over `said bed; said carriage includingv lanti-friction elementsmovable along said track- Ways;` certain of said anti-friction elementsbearing with their own weight and the weight of said carriage upon theupper surfaces of the ysaid horizontal walls of the trackways; andcertain others of said anti-friction elements having bearing engagementAwith the said vertical walls of fthe trackways and cooperating with thelatter to prevent movement of the carriage in -a direction transverse tothe axis of the trackways as itis moved over said bed.

17. In a printing press: a bed having substantially parallel trackwayseach including a substantially vertical wall 'and ar substantiallyhorizontal Wall; and an impression roll carriage movable over saidbed;said carriage being freely movable in a vertical plane relative toand above said bed and trackways so as to enable itjto climb slightlyduring the printing operationup onto the printing face of a printingform assembled on the bed but normally bearing with its own weight uponthe upper surfaces of the said horizontal walls of the trackways as itis moved over said bed; and said carriage including antifrictionelements having bearing engagement with the said verticaL walls of thetrackways and cooperating with the latter to prevent movement of thecarriage in a direction transverse .I

to the axis of the trackways both when the carriage-.is riding with itsWeight upon the horizontal walls of said trackways and when it is riding01T from and above the said horizontal walls and upon the printing faceof said printing form during the printing operation.` y

18T In a printing press, the combination of:

a bed having substantially parallel trackways.

each including a Vertical Wall and ahorizontal wall; an impression-rollcarriage movable over said bed; said carriage being freely movable in avertical plane relative to and above said bedy as it is moved thereoverduring the printing operation so aspto accommodate its impression rollto any -little irregularities or differences in vertical height that mayexist between the component parts of a printing form or the likeassembled-on the bed; but said carriage normally riding and bearing withits own weight upon the said horizontal walls of the trackways; saidcarriage being equipped with anti-friction means and said anti-frictionmeans cooperating with l the said trackways to prevent movement of thecarriage in a direction transverse to the, axis o'f the trackways bothwhen the carriage is riding and bearing with its own weight upon thehorizontal walls of the trackways and when -the carriage is .riding offfrom and above the said horizontal walls of the trackways as it is movedover the bed .during the printing operation.

19. In a printing press, the combination of:

a bed adapted to have arranged thereon an impression-transmitting formor -body and having' substantially parallel trackways each including aVertical wall andahbriz'ontal wall; an impression-roll carriage movableover said bed; said carriage being freely movable in' a vertical planerelative to and above said bed as it is moved 4thereover during theimpression-transmitting operation to enable its impression roll to climbslightly up 'onto the impression-transmitting 1145 face of animpression-transmitting form or body arranged upon the said bed; butsaid'carriage normally riding and bearing with its own weight upon thesaid horizontal walls of the trackways.'

said carriage being equipped with guiding means and said guiding meanscooperating with said trackways to prevent movement or the carriage in adirection transverse to the axis of the trackways both when the carriageis riding and bearing with its own Weight upon the horizontal Walls ofthe trackways and when the carriage is riding off from and above thesaid horizontal walls of the trackways during theimpression-transmitting operation. t

20. In a printing press, the combination of: a bed adapted to havearranged thereonv an impression-transmitting formA or body and havingsubstantially parallel trackways each including a vertical wall and ahorizontal Wall; an impression-roll carriage movable' over saidv bed;said carriage being freely movable in a vertical lplane relative to andabove said bed as it vis vmoved thereover during theimpression-transmitting operation to enable its impression roll to climbslightly up onto the impression-transmitting face of animpression-transmitting, form or body arranged upon the said bed;` butsaid carriage normally riding and bearing with its own weight upon thesaid horizontal walls of the trackways; said press being equipped withguiding means and said guiding means preventing movement of the carriagein a direction transverse to the axis of the trackways both when thecarriage is riding and herring with its own weight upon the horizontalwalls of `the track- Ways and when the carriage is riding off from andabovetrthe said horizontal walls of the trackways during theimpression-transmitting operation.

21. A printing press comprising the combination of: a bed havingsubstantially parallel trackways; a carriage movable over the bed alongthe trackways .and including an impression roll; said carriage and itsimpression roll being movable vertically relative to the-bed when movedthereover to accommodate the impressionroll to any little differencesthat may exist between the verticalheights of the printing vfaces oftype assembled upon the bed prior to the start of the printingoperation; said press including means cooperating with the trackways toguide the carriage as it is moved over the bed While permitting Verticalmovement of the carriage and the impression roll relative to the bed toeiect said accommodation of the impression roll to such differences inthe vertical heights of the type assembled upon the bed as may existprior to the start of the printing operation.

f 22. A printing press comprising the combination of: a bed havingsubstantially parallel trackways; a carriage movable over thev bed alongthe trackways and including an impression roll;

said impression roll being movable vertically relative to the bed whenmoved thereover to accom-- modate itself to any little differences thatmay exist between the vertical heights of the printing faces of typeassembled upon the bed prior to the start ofthe printing operation; saidpress including means cooperating with the trackways to guide thecarriage as it is moved over the bed While permitting vertical movementof the impression roll relative to the bed to elfect said accommodationof the impression roll Ito such diierences in the vertical heights ofthe type assembled upon the bed as may exist prior to the start of theprinting operation.

HARVEY J. REARDON.

